Team Sportia recruits new CEO from ICA

Claes Meldgaard, the current Assortment and Purchasing Director of ICA Non Food, will become the new CEO of Team Sportia. Claes, who has extensive experience in the sports and leisure industry, will start his new assignment in mid-August when he replaces the acting CEO Richard Westerlund.

Since December when the current CEO Anders Edvardsson resigned for family reasons, Team Sportia management has been looking for a permanent successor with the capabilities to retain and increase the momentum the company is currently experiencing. A strong name is now announced and the new CEO is Claes Meldgaard, Assortment and Purchasing Director of ICA Non Food with a history of different sales and purchasing positions at, for example Nike, Bauer Hockey, Fiskars and Team Sportia themselves. Sam Nieminen, Chairman of Team Sportia and CEO of the Finnish owner SGN Group is very pleased with the new acquisition.

- It feels very good to be able to present Claes as CEO of Team Sportia. He has a strong sales and marketing mindset combined with vast knowledge in products and purchasing, most recently, fromthe largest retail organisation in Sweden, ICA. Moreover, he knows our industry by hart and is a valued leader, says Sam Nieminen.

Between 2002 and 2005 Claes Meldgaard worked as Purchasing Manager at Team Sportia. As he now, ten years later, returns he returns to a chain in real tailwind.

- Team Sportia has had a very strong development and is now one of the strongest brands in the industry, which according to HUI has the greatest growth in trade in Sweden. That is conditions that feels very tempting to work with. Also, I very much believe in the power of the local entrepreneurship and the thorough knowledge of their own market that characterizes Team Sportia, says Claes Meldgaard.

The forthcoming CEO of Team Sportia also highlights the new owners of the company as an important reason why he looks very positively on the future of Team Sportia and the role as CEO.

- With SGN Team Sportia has a strong and long-term owner. With their support and with a competent organization at my side, I look forward to leading Team Sportia to a new level, says Claes Meldgaard.

There has been a significant interest in the position as CEO of Team Sportia. The reason why a candidate has not been announced until now does Sam Nieminen explain with that they neither wanted or needed to rush the decision.

- We have had many strong candidates, which is flattering and an acknowledgment that Team Sportia has a good reputation. At the same time, we have not had any hurry, but wanted to be sure that we found the right person for the job. We have been able to allow ourselves that luxury since our acting CEO Richard Westerlund is doing a great job and it feels good that he regains his previous position as Deputy CEO, he concludes.

For more information, please contact:

Sam Nieminen, chairman of Team SportiaEmail: sam.nieminen@sgn.fi
Phone: +358 40 5527040

Claes Meldgaard, forthcoming CEO of Team Sportia
Phone: 076-633 41 83

Richard Westerlund, acting CEO of Team Sportia
Email: richard.westerlund@teamsportia.se
Phone: +4631-355 10 41